little novels-第53章

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altzed　with　a　man。　What　a　difference　between　the　fervent　clasp　of　Percy's　arm　and　the　cold；　formal　contact　of　the　mistress　who　had　taught　her！　How　brightly　his　eyes　looked　down　into　hers；　admiring　her　with　such　a　tender　restraint；　that　there　could　surely　be　no　harm　in　looking　up　at　him　now　and　then　in　return。　Round　and　round　they　glided；　absorbed　in　the　music　and　in　themselves。　Occasionally　her　bosom　just　touched　him；　at　those　critical　moments　when　she　was　most　in　need　of　support。　At　other　intervals；　she　almost　let　her　head　sink　on　his　shoulder　in　trying　to　hide　from　him　the　smile　which　acknowledged　his　admiration　too　boldly。　〃Once　round；〃　Percy　had　suggested；　〃once　round；〃　her　mother　had　said。　They　had　been　ten；　twenty；　thirty　times　round；　they　had　never　stopped　to　rest　like　other　dancers；　they　had　centered　the　eyes　of　the　whole　room　on　themincluding　the　eyes　of　Captain　Berviewithout　knowing　it；　her　delicately　pale　complexion　had　changed　to　rosy…red；　the　neat　arrangement　of　her　hair　had　become　disturbed；　her　bosom　was　rising　and　falling　faster　and　faster　in　the　effort　to　breathebefore　fatigue　and　heat　overpowered　her　at　last；　and　forced　her　to　say　to　him　faintly；　〃I'm　very　sorryI　can't　dance　any　more！〃

Percy　led　her　into　the　cooler　atmosphere　of　the　refreshment…room；　and　revived　her　with　a　glass　of　lemonade。　Her　arm　still　rested　on　hisshe　was　just　about　to　thank　him　for　the　care　he　had　taken　of　herwhen　Captain　Bervie　entered　the　room。

〃Mrs。　Bowmore　wishes　me　to　take　you　back　to　her；〃　he　said　to　Charlotte。　Then；　turning　to　Percy；　he　added：　〃Will　you　kindly　wait　here　while　I　take　Miss　Bowmore　to　the　ballroom？　I　have　a　word　to　say　to　youI　will　return　directly。〃

The　Captain　spoke　with　perfect　politenessbut　his　face　betrayed　him。　It　was　pale　with　the　sinister　whiteness　of　suppressed　rage。

Percy　sat　down　to　cool　and　rest　himself。　With　his　experience　of　the　ways　of　men；　he　felt　no　surprise　at　the　marked　contrast　between　Captain　Bervie's　face　and　Captain　Bervie's　manner。　〃He　has　seen　us　waltzing；　and　he　is　coming　back　to　pick　a　quarrel　with　me。〃　Such　was　the　interpretation　which　Mr。　Linwood's　knowledge　of　the　world　placed　on　Captain　Bervie's　politeness。　In　a　minute　or　two　more　the　Captain　returned　to　the　refreshment…room；　and　satisfied　Percy　that　his　anticipations　had　not　deceived　him。

CHAPTER　VI。

LOVE。

FOUR　days　had　passed　since　the　night　of　the　ball。

Although　it　was　no　later　in　the　year　than　the　month　of　February；　the　sun　was　shining　brightly；　and　the　air　was　as　soft　as　the　air　of　a　day　in　spring。　Percy　and　Charlotte　were　walking　together　in　the　little　garden　at　the　back　of　Mr。　Bowmore's　cottage；　near　the　town　of　Dartford；　in　Kent。

〃Mr。　Linwood；〃　said　the　young　lady；　〃you　were　to　have　paid　us　your　first　visit　the　day　after　the　ball。　Why　have　you　kept　us　waiting？　Have　you　been　too　busy　to　remember　your　new　friends？〃

〃I　have　counted　the　hours　since　we　parted；　Miss　Charlotte。　If　I　had　not　been　detained　by　business〃

〃I　understand！　For　three　days　business　has　controlled　you。　On　the　fourth　day；　you　have　controlled　businessand　here　you　are？　I　don't　believe　one　word　of　it；　Mr。　Linwood！〃

There　was　no　answering　such　a　declaration　as　this。　Guiltily　conscious　that　Charlotte　was　right　in　refusing　to　accept　his　well…worn　excuse；　Percy　made　an　awkward　attempt　to　change　the　topic　of　conversation。

They　happened；　at　the　moment；　to　be　standing　near　a　small　conservatory　at　the　end　of　the　garden。　The　glass　door　was　closed；　and　the　few　plants　and　shrubs　inside　had　a　lonely；　neglected　look。　〃Does　nobody　ever　visit　this　secluded　place？〃　Percy　asked；　jocosely；　〃or　does　it　hide　discoveries　in　the　rearing　of　plants　which　are　forbidden　mysteries　to　a　stranger？〃

〃Satisfy　your　curiosity；　Mr。　Linwood；　by　all　means；〃　Charlotte　answered　in　the　same　tone。　〃Open　the　door；　and　I　will　follow　you。〃

Percy　obeyed。　In　passing　through　the　doorway；　he　encountered　the　bare　hanging　branches　of　some　creeping　plant；　long　since　dead；　and　detached　from　its　fastenings　on　the　woodwork　of　the　roof。　He　pushed　aside　the　branches　so　that　Charlotte　could　easily　follow　him　in；　without　being　aware　that　his　own　forced　passage　through　them　had　a　little　deranged　the　folds　of　spotless　white　cambric　which　a　well…dressed　gentleman　wore　round　his　neck　in　those　days。　Charlotte　seated　herself；　and　directed　Percy's　attention　to　the　desolate　conservatory　with　a　saucy　smile。

〃The　mystery　which　your　lively　imagination　has　associated　with　this　place；〃　she　said；　〃means；　being　interpreted；　that　we　are　too　poor　to　keep　a　gardener。　Make　the　best　of　your　disappointment；　Mr。　Linwood；　and　sit　here　by　me。　We　are　out　of　hearing　and　out　of　sight　of　mamma's　other　visitors。　You　have　no　excuse　now　for　not　telling　me　what　has　really　kept　you　away　from　us。〃

She　fixed　her　eyes　on　him　as　she　said　those　words。　Before　Percy　could　think　of　another　excuse；　her　quick　observation　detected　the　disordered　condition　of　his　cravat；　and　discovered　the　upper　edge　of　a　black　plaster　attached　to　one　side　of　his　neck。

〃You　have　been　hurt　in　the　neck！〃　she　said。　〃That　is　why　you　have　kept　away　from　us　for　the　last　three　days！〃

〃A　mere　trifle；〃　he　answered；　in　great　confusion；　〃please　don't　notice　it。〃

Her　eyes；　still　resting　on　his　face；　assumed　an　expression　of　suspicious　inquiry；　which　Percy　was　entirely　at　a　loss　to　understand。　Suddenly；　she　started　to　her　feet；　as　if　a　new　idea　had　occurred　to　her。　〃Wait　here；〃　she　said；　flushing　with　excitement；　〃till　I　come　back：　I　insist　on　it！〃

Before　Percy　could　ask　for　an　explanation　she　had　left　the　conservatory。

In　a　minute　or　two；　Miss　Bowmore　returned；　with　a　newspaper　in　her　hand。　〃Read　that；〃　she　said；　pointing　to　a　paragraph　distinguished　by　a　line　drawn　round　it　in　ink。

The　passage　that　she　indicated　contained　an　account　of　a　duel　which　had　recently　taken　place　in　the　neighborhood　of　London。　The　names　of　the　duelists　were　not　mentioned。　One　was　described　as　an　officer；　and　the　other　as　a　civilian。　They　had　quarreled　at　cards；　and　had　fought　with　pistols。　The　civilian　had　had　a　narrow　escape　of　his　life。　His　antagonist's　bullet　had　passed　near　enough　to　the　side　of　his　neck　to　tear　the　flesh；　and　had　missed　the　vital　parts；　literally；　by　a　hair's…breadth。

Charlotte's　eyes；　riveted　on　Percy；　detected　a　sudden　change　of　color　in　his　face　the　moment　he　looked　at　the　newspaper。　That　was　enough　for　her。　〃You　_are_　the　man！〃　she　cried。　〃Oh；　for　shame；　for　shame！　To　risk　your　life　for　a　paltry　dispute　about　cards！〃

〃I　would　risk　it　again；〃　said　Percy；　〃to　hear　you　speak　as　if　you　set　some　value　on　it。〃

She　looked　away　from　him　without　a　word　of　reply。　Her　mind　seemed　to　be　busy　again　with　its　own　thoughts。　Did　she　meditate　returning　to　the　subject　of　the　duel？　Was　she　not　satisfied　with　the　discovery　which　she　had　just　made？

No　such　doubts　as　these　troubled　the　mind　of　Percy　Linwood。　Intoxicated　by　the　charm　of　her　presence；　emboldened　by　her　innocent　betrayal　of　the　interest　that　she　felt　in　him；　he　opened　his　whole　heart　to　her　as　unreservedly　as　if　they　had　known　each　other　from　the　days　of　their　childhood。　There　was　but　one　excuse　for　him。　Charlotte　was　his　first　love。

〃You　don't　know　how　completely　you　have　become　a　part　of　my　life；　sinc　e　we　met　at　the　ball；〃　he　went　on。　〃That　one　delightful　dance　seemed；　by　some　magic　which　I　can't　explain；　to　draw　us　together　in　a　few　minutes　as　if　we　had　known　each　other　for　years。　Oh；　dear！　I　could　make　such　a　confession　of　what　I　feltonly　I　am　afraid　of　offending　you　by　speaking　too　soon。　Women　are　so　dreadfully　difficult　to　understand。　How　is　a　man　to　know　at　what　time　it　is　considerate　toward　them　to　conceal　his　true　feelings；　and　at　what　time　it　is　equally　considerate　to　express　his　true　feelings？　One　doesn't　know　whether　it　is　a　matter　of　days　or　weeks　or　monthsthere　ought　to　be　a　law　to　settle　it。　Dear　Miss　Charlotte；　when　a　poor　fellow　loves　you　at　first　sight；　as　he　has　never　loved　any　other　woman；　and　when　he　is　tormented　by　the　fear　that　some　other　man　may　be　preferred　to　him；　can't　you　forgive　him　if　he　lets　out　the　truth　a　little　too　soon？〃　He　ventured；　as　he　put　that　very　downright　question；　to　take　her　hand。　〃It　really　isn't　my　fault；〃　he　said；　simply。　〃My　heart　is　so　full　of　you　I　can　talk　of　nothing　else。〃

To　Percy's　delight；　the　first　experimental　pressure　of　his　hand；　far　from　being　resented；　was　softly　returned。　Charlotte　looked　at　him　again；　with　a　new　resolution　in　her　face。

〃I'll　forgive　you　for　talking　nonsense；　Mr。　Linwood；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　will　even　permit　you　to　come　and　see　me　again；　on　one　conditionthat　you　tell　the　whole　truth　about　the　duel。　If　you　conceal　the　smallest　circumstance；　our　acquaintance　is　at　an　end。〃

〃Haven't　I　owned　everything　already？〃　Percy　inquired；　in　great　perplexity。　〃Did　I　say　No；　when　you　told　me　I　was　the　man？〃

〃Could　you　say　No；　with　that　plaster　on　your　neck？〃　was　the　ready　rejoinder。　〃I　am　determined　to　know　more　than　the　newspaper　tells　me。　Will　you　declare；　on　your　word　of　honor；　that　Captain　Bervie　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　duel？　Can　you　look　me　in　the　face；　and　say　that　the　real　cause　of　the　quarrel　was　a　disagreement　at　cards？　When　you　were　talking　with　me　just　before　I　left　the　ball；　how　did　you　answer　a　gentleman　who　asked　you　to　make　one　at　the　whist…table？　You　said；　'I　don't　play　at　cards。'　Ah！　You　thought　I　had　forgotten　that？　Don't　kiss　my　hand！　Trust　me　with　the　whole　truth；　or　say　good…by　forever。〃

〃Only　tell　me　what　you　wish　to　know；　Miss　Charlotte；〃　said　Percy　humbly。　〃If　you　will　put　the　questions；　I　will　give　the　answersas　well　as　I　can。〃

On　this　understanding；　Percy's　evidence　was　extracted　from　him　as　follows：

〃Was　it　Captain　Bervie　who　quarreled　with　you？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Was　it　about　me？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃What　did　he　say？〃

〃He　said　I　had　committed　an　impropriety　in　waltzing　with　you。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because　your　parents　disapproved　of　your　waltzing　in　a　public　ballroom。〃

〃That's　not　true！　What　did　he　say　next？〃

〃He　said　I　had　added　tenfold　to　my　offense；　by　waltzing　with　you　in　such　a　manner　as　to　make　you　the　subject　of　remark　to　the　whole　room。〃

〃Oh！　did　you　let　him　say　that？〃

〃No；　I　contradicted　him　instantly。　And　I　said；　besides；　'It's　an　insult　to　Miss　Bowmore；　to　suppose　that　she　would　permit　any　impropriety。'　〃

〃Quite　right！　And　what　did　he　say？〃

〃Well；　he　lost　his　temper；　I　would　rather　not　repeat　what　he　said　when　he　was　mad　with　jealousy。　There　was　nothing　to　be　done　with　him　but　to　give　him　his　way。〃

〃Give　him　his　way？　Does　that　mean　fight　a　duel　with　him？〃

〃Don't　be　angryit　does。〃

〃And　you　kept　my　name　out　of　it；　by　pretending　to　quarrel　at　the　card…table？〃

〃Yes。　We　managed　it　when　the　cardroom　was　emptying　at　supper…time；　and　nobody　was　present　but　Major　Mulvany　and　another　friend　as　witnesses。〃

〃And　when　did　you　fight　the　duel？〃

〃The　next　morning。〃

〃You　never　thought　of　_me_；　I　suppose？〃

〃Indeed；　I　did；　I　was　very　glad　that　you　had　no　suspicion　of　what　we　were　at。〃

〃Was　that　all？〃

〃No；　I　had　your　flower　with　me；　the　flower　you　gave　me　out　of　your　nosegay；　at　the　ball。〃

〃Well？〃

〃Oh；　never　mind；　it　doesn't　matter。〃

〃It　does　matter。　What　did　you　do　with　my　flower？〃

〃I　gave　it　a　sly　kiss　while　they　were　measuring　the　gro